UCF rumbles to 38-0 win at FIU, improving to 2-0

MIAMI — Two years after arriving in Miami with high expectations and returning with a loss, UCF traveled to FIU on Friday night and left little doubt about its superiority.

For the second consecutive week, the Knights (2-0) did what they were supposed to do against a weaker opponent, dominating the Panthers and rolling to a 38-0 win at FIU Stadium.

"I think that's what you've got to do," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "You got to stay on top of people and, as they always say, keep your foot on the gas. I thought we did. ... I think they took it as a business trip and went out and did what they had to get done."

The UCF offense continued to set high marks during the win, scoring 38 points for a second consecutive week. Junior Rannell Hall recorded his first 100-yard receiving game, running back Storm Johnson surpassed his touchdown output from last season and quarterback Blake Bortles was steady leading the offense.

The defense, meanwhile, posted a shutout, limiting the Panthers (0-2) to 173 yards of offense.

It was not always pretty, but the Knights dominated nonetheless.

"I thought we did some good things on offense," Bortles said. "I had a couple bad plays in the beginning ... those are things I have to fix in my game, but I thought it was a good performance [and] a good win."

UCF looked somewhat lethargic on the opening drive of the game, but FIU penalties helped jumpstart the Knights' offense. A FIU personal foul helped set up UCF's first score. A Panthers offensive facemask helped the UCF defense, flipping field position and spurring the second touchdown.

"Good football teams take advantage of a mistake," O'Leary said.

After lighting up Akron in the opener, the Knights' passing game continued to show its big-play ability. Bortles hit Hall on a 34-yard pass down the left sideline late in the first quarter to set up Johnson's first touchdown run. It gave the Knights a 14-0 lead. Midway through the second quarter, he found Hall behind the defense again, this time for 59 yards. The reception was the longest of Hall's career, and it set up Johnson's 15-yard touchdown run that put UCF up 24-0 at the half.

The Knights continued to take advantage of FIU's mishaps in the third quarter.

The Panthers were driving early in the second half, facing a third-and-11 at their own 46-yard line. The shotgun snap sailed over quarterback Jake Medlock's head, however, and UCF junior linebacker Troy Gray recovered at the FIU 17-yard line.

Four plays later, Johnson got into the end zone again on a 2-yard touchdown scamper.

The Knights added to that lead four and half minutes later, with Johnson again leading the way.

The junior back took a screen pass 33 yards and then carried four straight times to set up third and goal from the five-yard line. Bortles then found J.J. Worton for his first touchdown pass of the day. It was the second touchdown catch of the season for Worton, a South Dade High product.

With UCF safely in control of the outcome, the game got interesting in the fourth quarter. UCF freshman quarterback Justin Holman entered a college game for the first time in his career. UCF back-up quarterback Tyler Gabbert left the program this week, so coach George O'Leary burned Holman's redshirt rather than risking a Bortles injury in the fourth quarter.

On Holman's first snap of the game, starting left tackle Torrian Wilson went down with an injury and was helped off the field. Holman then whipped a pass to Jeff Godfrey for his first career completion and led the Knights into field goal range only to see Rodrigo Quirarte's 40-yard attempt sail wide.

The miss was a minor blemish on a resounding win.

"We know what happened to us last time we came down here," said UCF wide receiver Jeff Godfrey, who finished with four catches for 33 yards. "It was [a] 17-10 [loss] and we didn't want that to happen again. Coach made a big statement about that this week and we came out and got the job done on both sides."

After two dominant outings to open the season, the Knights will travel to Penn State next week still undefeated but with plenty left to prove. For a team that hoped this season would prove it deserves national recognition, the trip to Happy Valley will be the first chance to make a real impression.